Magical History Tour at Maritime Museum

The latest large exhibition at the Maritime opened yesterday. When we went to the press view on Thursday there was still an awful lot of things to be installed but we still saw plenty, I just hope its all there now. Its all fascinating stuff especially for anyone interested in our local history.

Liverpool’s fascinating 800-year history from fishing village to Second City of the British Empire and into the modern era is explored in a major exhibition at Merseyside Maritime Museum.

Magical History Tour, running from 28 July 2007 to 27 September 2009, looks at the events which shaped Liverpool over the centuries. King John’s charter of 1207 literally set the seal on the future of the town.

Liverpool Castle dominated the town for 500 years before it was finally swept away in the 1700s as the port began to grow. The exhibition features a model of the stone-built fortress as a centrepiece.

Magical History Tour takes visitors on a journey of discovery to celebrate the amazing roller-coaster story of Liverpool and its people. It looks at why Liverpool proved to be such a prime location for its early settlers and how this shaped its future.

Liverpool’s dramatic political history of struggle and conflict is examined along with its success as a major port and gateway to the world.

The massive immigration into Liverpool in Victorian times as the port boomed created a new urban way of life. Millions of people passed through at the same time when Liverpool was probably the greatest emigration port in world history. The modern media age starting with The Beatles comes under the spotlight when creativity took over from cotton as arguably Liverpool’s greatest commodity.

Jon Murden, curator of Liverpool history and exhibition organiser, says: “This exhibition is a memorable experience for all visitors, however well they know the city. Most importantly, it is the story of the people who have made Liverpool, not just the streets and buildings.

“Magical History Tour is showing during an important period of the city’s history. It helps raise awareness of the lasting legacy of Liverpool’s contributions to British and world history, including not only international trade but popular culture.